Ontogenic, Immunological, and Behavioral Changes of Crack Cocaine Exposure During the Gestational Period

Crack cocaine has a high addictive power that stimulates the central nervous system (CNS), and its high consumption by women of reproductive age has generated many challenges for public health. Crack cocaine use by pregnant women has been correlated with CNS malformations, cell damage, and changes in the immune system. Our purpose was to evaluate the effects of gestational exposure to crack cocaine in pregnant rats on ectoplacental cone cells, immune organs, maternal behavior, anxiety-like phenotype, metabolites, and sensorimotor reflex development of offspring. Pregnant rats were exposed to air or crack cocaine (200 mg) from the 5th gestational day (5^thGD) to the 9th GD or until the end of pregnancy. Our findings showed that gestational exposure to crack cocaine increased trophoblast cell death, associated with reduced ectoplacental cone outgrowth in vitro. Furthermore, anxiogenic-like behavior in pregnant rats and negligence in maternal care were observed after exposure to crack cocaine. The development of motor reflexes in the offspring remained unchanged. In addition, exposure to crack cocaine during pregnancy reduced the relative weight of the spleen and CD8 + T lymphocyte subsets. No changes were observed in the thymus. Finally, we observed a series of changes in the metabolites of lactating rats exposed to crack cocaine during pregnancy. Taken together, our findings provide new insight into gestational changes promoted following exposure to crack cocaine and support future clinical interventions and treatments.